Okay so hear me out on the hybrid au with Pantalone.
•you're a wild hybrid, say a snow leopard or a fox or sorts, something with white fur and a pretty appearance that lives in the snowy landscapes of Snezhnaya. You're chasing your meal as you crash into a Fatui camp. Pantalone is there, watching as you tumble into his tent
•His subordinates quickly stand to apprehend you, wild hybrids still a threat, especially predatory ones
•As the soldiers discuss which dealer to sell you too, the harbinger steps forward to say it won't be necessary. He'll keep you as his own
•You're whisked away to the palace and he commands some servants to bathe you, you're filthy and grimy from living in the wild your whole life. The servants get through it with only minor injuries
•Eventually you're clean and dry, your nails trimmed and tail and ears brushed out as you're sat in Pantalones room, near defenceless now
•You fit in beautifully, your soft white fur a contrast to his darkly coloured decorations, everything expensive and clean
•He's definitely got some manners and some English to teach you, but for now he's content watching you wonder why your claws are gone